Tamiya Fw 190A-3 into Fw 190A-8/9

I'm thinking of using the Tamiya A-3 kit I have in the stash for GB 68 - We All Build Fw 190 but the decals I'n looking at are for an A-8 or A-9. What modifications would be necessary to make this conversion?

If you mean the external view , you have to change the main wheel door covering and the wheel hubs. IIRC the wheel bays need to get a slightly different shape at the bottom of the fuselage. The cockpit front windscreen and especially , the slided back hood have to be changed a little bit. The rudder and ailerons have to be replaced with the later ones that had the different metal frame. The antenna mount on the fin top needs to be changed. You will have to add a couple of the bulges on the wing top and bottom depending on the wing armamant. The main hatch on the port side of the fuselage side has to be repositioned. The bottom hatch has to be engraved. But the main work is because of the changings you have to introduce to the front of the uselage behind the engine. The side cooling slots have to made as the adjustable open-close type. The fuselage gun compartment has to be replaced with the more bulged for the MG 131 guns. But the most important thing is that the fuselage has to be lengthen about 3mm just at the line between the back edge of the engine cowling and the front of the panel with the cooling slots. A couple of more details like the few additional antennas, small hatches and changings to the panel lines are the piece of cake.

and a quick diagram with coloured areas for changings ...

A lot of work to make it accurate Glenn. Also, depending on the scheme you have in mind, many but not all, A-8s also had armour reinforcing around the cockpit.

Crimea_River said:

A lot of work to make it accurate Glenn. Also, depending on the scheme you have in mind, many but not all, A-8s also had armour reinforcing around the cockpit.

View attachment 851782

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Yep .. the additional armour was used for the Fw 190A-8/R2 variant called the Sturmbock. The standard kite didn't have it mounted.

This is the one I was looking at, but it seems like it will be too much work unless I don't worry about authenticity and just build the kit without mods. I picked the Tamiya kit from all the 190's in my stash as it would go together quickly without problems because I will have limited time on this group build having to be finished with it by mid-January.

A kite of the JG 301 .... actually the most changings you would have to do, is the engraving matter. The top of the fin of the A-3 at the top leading edge has to be sanded down to remove the erlier mount of the antenna wire and add the small mast at its top. The main wheel bay doors and solid wheel rims are easy to get them correct. Also the cooling slots can be made either by filling of the old ones and then engraving the new ones or make them open with the new shutters made from scratch. The most difficult thing seems to be the exstension of the fuselage. But it is also possible by adding of the three milimeter wide strips. As you may notice the hood for the kite isn't seen in the pics below but most late A-8 and the A-9 had the later, bulged one. There is no way to correct the one coming with the kit. So the aftermarket source or acquisition of the part from a kit offered with both variants of the glass as the alternative is the way to get it. But there is no evidence she had the later hood. As a result the one of the A-3 could fit too. The same for the fuselage MG top cover. I have forgotten about that but you may need to change the prop. The later ones had the wider prop blades.




the pic source: JG301 Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8

To sum up ... IMHO it is easier to make the conversion from the A-3 to the A-4. It is a matter of changing of the antenna wire mount at the top of the fin and finding the number or finction marking decal only .The rest of the national markings can be of the A-8. But the A-3 also can be.

If I may suggest ... A-3



the pic source: A. Dickfeld Fw 190A-4 ???

A quite interesting .. I have found my old post for the same but the other way around.

I would love to give the modification a shot but there isn't any chance I can finish it by January. I guess I have to fins some decals I like for an A-3 or pick a different kit from my stash. Maybe the 1/72nd MPM V-1 prototype or 1/48th twin seat S

Sweet look forward to this !!